Chrysanthemum plant named ‘95-157-6’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘95-157-6’ is provided.

Genus/species: Dendranthemum×hybrida.

Cultivar designation: ‘95-157-6’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinctive chrysanthemum plant, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘95-157-6’. This new cultivar was the result of a cross in 1989 between Dendranthema weyrichii and Dendranthema grandiflora. More specifically, the breeding program, which resulted in the production of the new cultivar was carried out in St. Paul, Minn. The breeding program commenced with a female plant of a Dendranthema weyrichii, which is unpatented, having the following characteristics: (a) the plant habit is prostrate and the plant spreads via rhizomes to form a large mat after the first year; (b) the plant dimensions are that the plant has a diameter of about 1.5′ and is about 5-6″ tall; (c) the plant is hardy in zones 4-9 (Southeast)/Zone 10 (west); (d) the flower of the plant is a single daisy, having light lavender colored ray florets and central disc florets with yellow pollen; (e) the plant has leaves that are dark green in color, with a very shiny leaf surface (glossy), and glabrous leaf margins that are deeply incised; and (f) the plants tends to rosette, needs cold treatment to flower consistently, flowering can be sporadic with gaps in the plant architecture and the plant is an obligate short-day plant. The male plant used to initiate the breeding program was a Dendranthema grandiflora, which is unpatented, having the following characteristics: (a) the plant habit is cushion; (b) the plant dimensions are that the plant is similar to other cushion types commercially available, such as, but not limited to the variety, ‘Shasta’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,314); (c) the plant is hardy in zones 6-9 (Southeast)/Zone 10 (west); (d) the flower is a single or duplex daisy, possibly orange or bronze ray florets, central disc florets with yellow pollen; (e) the plant has leaves that are similar to other cushion series of chrysanthemums; and (f) the plant is a facultative short-day plant. The resulting seeds, identified as ‘90-287-194’ were collected. In 1991, a plant of ‘90-287-194’ which is unpatented, was crossed as the male parent with plants identified as ‘77-AM3-3’, a proprietary inbred parental selection, which is unpatented, as the female parent and the resulting seeds, identified as cross number ‘92-279-2’ were collected. In 1994, a plant of ‘92-279-2’, which is unpatented, was crossed as the male parent with plants of the cultivar ‘Baby Tears’ (unpatented) as the female parent and the resulting seeds, identified as cross number ‘95-157’, were collected. In 1995, seedlings of the cross ‘95-157’ were germinated and the flowering progeny evaluated. ‘95-157-6’ was the sixth plant from the cross and was selected in the fall of 1995.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal or stem cuttings in St. Paul, Minn., U.S.A. has demonstrated that the characteristics of the new cultivar as herein described are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of such asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It was found that the cultivar of the present invention:

-   -   (a) exhibits extreme hybrid vigor;     -   (b) develops, in its second and subsequent years after planting,         when grown in the fall under natural daylength and without the         application of growth regulators, into a flower herbaceous shrub         having a plant height of from about 1.8 to about 2.25 feet and a         spread form about 2.4 to about 5.0 feet,     -   (c) exhibits, in its second and subsequent years after planting         and during the fall season (August-October), a massive floral         display,     -   (d) displays flowers which are slightly toned with grey, giving         the ray florets a slightly altered coloration,     -   (e) exhibits superior winter hardiness, including frost         tolerance, and     -   (f) exhibits self-pinching.

The ‘95-157-6’ cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length.

When the new cultivar of the present invention is compared to ‘Stephanie’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,445), it is found to exhibit a more spreading and prolific habit accompanied with a massive floral display in its second and subsequent years after planting. Reference is made to Table 1 below, which compares certain characteristics of ‘95-157-6’ to ‘Stephanie’.

TABLE 1 Characteristics ‘95-157-6’ ‘Stephanie’ Capitulum form and type Pentaplex daisy Flat daisy Plant Height About 18 to 19 inches 10 to 12 inches (first year); about 1.8 to about 2.25 feet (second year) Branching Pattern Spreading and very Spreading and very prolific prolific Flowering Response 6 weeks 7 weeks Inflorescence Diameter 7.1 cm 5.8 to 6.1 cm Ray florets, color, mature White White

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. The plants were grown in a greenhouse at St. Paul, Minn., USA.

FIG. 1 shows an adaxial and abaxial view of the leaf shape of chrysanthemum variety ‘95-157-6’.

FIG. 2 shows the breeding history of chrysanthemum variety ‘95-157-6’.

FIG. 3 is a color photograph of chrysanthemum variety ‘95-157-6’ after two years of growth.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors described is the 1966 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England. The color values were determined on Oct. 15, 1999 in St. Paul, Minn. The readings were taken between 1:30 and 2:00 PM under approximately 2500 footcandles of light. The plants were produced from cuttings from stock plants and were grown under greenhouse conditions in St. Paul, Minn. comparable to those used in commercial practice while utilizing a soilless growth medium and maintaining temperatures of approximately 72° F. during the day and approximately 65° F. during the night. The plants described were one and two years of age from rooted cuttings.

-   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Herbaceous stem cutting.         -   Time of rooting.—About 1 week.         -   Rooting habit.—Vigorous. -   Botanical classification: Dendranthemum×hybrida. -   Commercial classification: Chrysanthemum hybrid. -   Plant description:     -   -   Appearance, shape.—Spherical mound.         -   Appearance, growth habit.—Cushion.         -   Appearance, growth rate/vigor.—Vigorous.         -   Plant height.—About 18 to about 19 inches (first year).             About 1.8 to about 2.25 feet (second year).         -   Lateral branch length.—1 to 2.5 feet.         -   Quantity of lateral branches after removal of apical             meristem.—One per node.         -   Stem color.—RHS Paris Green 58/1. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Number of leaves per plant.—Greater than 8,000 (second             year).         -   Number of leaves per lateral branch.—5 to 20.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Leaf size, fully expanded, length.—7.8 cm.         -   Leaf size, fully expanded, width.—4.8 cm.         -   Leaf shape.—Ovate and narrowing towards base.         -   Leaf apex.—Mucronulate.         -   Leaf base.—Cuneate.         -   Leaf margin.—Incised (Mulberry-like incisions).         -   Leaf texture.—Mildly hirsute.         -   Petiole length.—2.2 cm.         -   Color, young foliage adaxial surface.—RHS Scheeles Green             860/2.         -   Color, young foliage abaxial surface.—RHS Spinach Green             o960/2.         -   Color, fully expanded foliage abaxial surface.—RHS Spinach             Green o960.         -   Color, fully expanded foliage abaxial surface.—RHS Spinach             Green o960/1 to RHS Spinach Green o960/3.         -   Color, venation adaxial surface.—RHS Spinach Green o960/2.         -   Color, venation abaxial surface.—RHS Spinach Green o960/3.         -   Color, petiole.—RHS Scheeles Green 860/1.         -   Inflorescence description.—Head (composite), pentaplex             daisy.         -   Flowering response.—About 6 weeks (under short days).         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—About 1,000 (first year). About             3,000 (second year).         -   Inflorescence size, diameter.—7.1 cm.         -   Inflorescence size, depth (height).—3.4 cm.         -   Inflorescence size, diameter of disc.—1.0 cm.         -   Opening inflorescences, bud shape.—Dome shaped to upright             tubular.         -   Opening inflorescences, bud size, length.—0.6 cm.         -   Opening inflorescences, bud size, width.—0.7 cm.         -   Opening inflorescences, bud color.—RHS Creamy White.         -   Ray florets, shape.—Linear lanceolate.         -   Ray florets, size, length.—2.7 cm.         -   Ray florets, size, width.—0.6 cm.         -   Ray florets, apex.—Retuse.         -   Ray florets, base.—Attenuate.         -   Ray florets, margin.—Entire.         -   Ray florets, texture.—Glabrous.         -   Ray florets, aspect.—From about 45° vertical to slightly             pendant 45°.         -   Number of ray florets per inflorescence.—About 119.         -   Ray florets, color, when opening, adaxial surface.—RHS Sap             Green 62/3.         -   Ray florets, color, when opening, abaxial surface.—RHS             Uranium Green 63/3.         -   Ray florets, mature, adaxial surface.—RHS White.         -   Ray florets, mature, abaxial surface.—RHS White.         -   Ray florets, fading to.—RHS White.         -   Disc florets, size, length.—0.7 cm.         -   Disc florets, size, width.—0.2 cm.         -   Number of disc florets per inflorescence.—About 100.         -   Disc florets, color, immature.—RHS Straw Yellow 604.         -   Disc florets, color, mature.—RHS Chinese Yellow 606.         -   Peduncle, aspect, strength.—Stiff.         -   Peduncle, aspect, angle to stem.—45°.         -   Peduncle, length, first peduncle.—3 cm.         -   Peduncle, length, fourth peduncle.—4.6 cm.         -   Peduncle, texture.—Midly hirsute.         -   Peduncle, color.—RHS Viridian Green 55/3.         -   Reproductive organs, androecium, floret location.—Disc             florets.         -   Anther color.—RHS Canary Yellow 2/1.         -   Pollen abundance.—Abundant.         -   Pollen, color.—RHS Buttercup Yellow 5.         -   Reproductive organs, gynoecium, floret location.—Disc/ray             florets.         -   Style color.—RHS Buttercup Yellow 5/2. -   Stamen description: Stamens are located within each individual disk     floret. Each stamen is borne on a filament that, when mature     (dehiscent with pollen shedding longitudinally along the long axis     of the anther), places the stamens above the stigma (i.e., the top     portion of the pistil). -   Pistil number: Each ray floret possesses one pistil (there are     approximately 60 per inflorescence). Likewise, each disk floret also     possesses a pistil (there are approximately 191 per inflorescence).     Therefore, the total number of pistils/inflorescence is 251     (60+191). The size of the pistil (length) is approximately 1 cm. -   Disease resistance: None Known as ‘95-157-6’ has not been tested for     any diseases. -   Seed production and fruit: About 152 ovules/flower. The fruit is an     achene, a dry, indehiscent fruit with a single locule and a single     seed, and with the seed attached to the ovary wall at a single     point. The achene does not have any pappus of awns for bristles; its     general shape is a half-inflated football oval with pointed ends.     Seed size is about 0.2-0.5 cm in length and about 0.1-0.2 cm in     width. The surface texture is ridged. The color designation for the     seed is RHS Brown Group 200D. -   Fragrance: Fragrance is noticeable when handling or bruising the     foliage. -   Longevity of the bloom: Flower longevity is temperature dependent.     Under normal conditions in the field, during the fall season,     inflorescences will typically last about 2-4 plus weeks. -   Winter hardiness: Hardy in zones 3-10 in uncovered field conditions     without the need for added protection such as snow fences, mulch,     etc. -   Frost tolerance: Yes, extends blooming season to the first freeze in     the north (In zones 3-4 the first frost usually takes place between     September 1-15. In zones 3-4, the first freeze usually takes place     between October 1-20. 

1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘95-157-6’ substantially as herein shown and described. 